Oscillating arm pop-up sprinkler



y 7, 3 J. H. COFFEY ETAL OSCILLATING ARM POP-UP SPRINKLER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 3, 1961 JVAE H COFFEV CRBL 8 S/meP INVENTORS y 1963 J. H. COFFEY ETAL- I 3,088,677

OSCILLATING ARM POP-UP SPRINKLER Filed July 3, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J04: A, Cap/=5? 64 24 fc! 9mm INVENTORJ United States Patent G 3,083,677 OSCILLATING ARM POP-UP SPRINKLER Jule H. Coffey, La Verne, and Carl R. Sharp, Glendora,

Calif., assignors to Anthony Manufacturing Corporation, Azusa, Calif., a corporation of California Filed July 3, 1961, Ser. No. 121,481 6 Claims. (Cl. 239-205) This invention relates to oscillating arm pop-up sprinkler, more particularly to means whereby the type of sprinkler shown in Patent No. 2,25 6,737, issued September 23, 1941, to Orton H. Englehart, and in Patent No. 3,022,012, issued February 20, 1962, to Sharp et al., may be arranged to occupy a concealed, retracted position when not in use and a raised position when in use.

Included in the objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a novelly arranged housing structure for an oscillating arm sprinkler which incorporates means readily responsive to water pressure to raise the sprinkler, and incorporates novel seal means to prevent damage -by solids carried by the water or washed into the housing structure.

Second, to provide an oscillating type of pop-up sprinkler having a covering lid and means accessible by use of a screw driver inserted under the lid to eifect adjustment of the are through which the sprinkler operates.

With the above and other objects in view, as may appear hereinafter, reference is directed to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE *1 is a longitudinal, sectional view of the oscillating arm pop-up sprinkler shown in its retracted position with portions shown in elevation;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse, sectional view through 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal, sectional view similar to FIGURE '1, but showing the sprinkler in its raised or operating position;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse, sectional view through 44 of FIGURE 3.

The oscillating arm pop-up sprinkler includes a housing '1 having an enlarged cavity 2 at its upper end and a tubul'ar stem 3 of reduced diameter at its lower end, which terminates in a screw-threaded nipple for connection to a pipeline P.

The lower wall of the cavity 2 forms with the tubular stem 3 a shoulder 4 on which rests a slide collar 5 having a flange 6 overlying the shoulder 4 and secured thereto by screws 7. A gasket 8 is interposed between the flange 6 and the shoulder 4.

A sleeve 9 is slidably mounted in the slide collar 5 and is screw-threaded at its lower end to receive a tubular nut 10. Extending laterally from the tubular nut 10 is a key pin 11 which is adapted to ride in a vertical groove 12 formed in the side wall of the tubular stem 3 so as to retain the sleeve 9-against rotation.

The tubular nut 10 is provided with an upwardly directed retaining rib spaced from the sleeve 9 and within which is fitted a Washer 13 having a beveled upper face which is adapted for sealing engagement with the lower end of the slide collar 5, when the sleeve 9 is in its extended position shown in FIGURE 3.

A spring 14 is interposed between the tubular nut 10 and the slide collar 5 for the purpose of urging the sleeve 9 towards its retracted position shown in FIGURE 1.

The upper extremity of the slide collar 5 receives a seal ring 15 having a skirt 16 formed with an internal flange adapted to fit over a mating external flange at the extremity of the slide collar 5 so as to retain the seal ring 15 on the end of the slide collar 5. The seal ring 15 is provided with an upwardly directed sealing lip '17 which yieldably engages the upper portion of the sleeve 9 extending above the slide collar 5.

3,088,677, Patented May 7, 1963 The seal ring 15 is preferably formed of a relatively yieldable plastic material, such that the sealing lip 17 tends to remain in yieldable engagement with the sleeve 9 and prevent dirt or water from entering the bearing surfaces between the slide collar 5 and the sleeve 9.

The sleeve 9 receives a tubular rotatable stem 18 which is provided at its lower end with a retainer ring 19'. Interposed between the retainer ring 19 and the lower end of the sleeve 9 is a series of washers 20, 21, and 22. The lowermost washer 20 is preferably formed of rubber, the uppermost washer 22 is preferably formed of nylon or a similar type of plastic, whereas the intermediate Washer 21 is formed of Teflon or a similar type of plastic.

The function of the series of washers 20, 21, and 22 is to exclude water and dirt from the bearing surfaces of the sleeve '9 and stem "18, and also to provide a controlled degree of friction necessary to effect oscillatory motion of the rotatable stem 18, as will be brought out herein-after.

The upper end of the rotatable stem 18 is provided with a sealing washer 23 and a metal washer 24.. The upper end of the rotatable stem 18 is screw-threaded to receive a sprinkler unit 25. The sprinkler unit may be conventional; for example, it may be an oscillating type sprinkler unit such as shown in the copending application of Sharp et al. filed May 18, 1959, Serial No. 813,949. A spring 26 is interposed between the sprinkler unit 25 and the washer 24.

The upper end of the sprinkler unit 25 supports a cover plate 27 adapt-ed to close the upper open end of the cavity 2. For some installations of the sprinkler it is desirable to place a cushion plate 28 over the cover plate 27 and to provide a cushion ring 29 around the mouth of the cavity 2.

The oscillating sprinkler unit 25 is provided with a conventional orifice 30 directed upwardly and radially, and in addition is provided with a suitable conventional mechanism, such as shown in the aforementioned patent, for the purpose of eifecting step-by-step movement of the sprinkler within the boundaries of a predetermined arc of travel.

This is accomplished conventionally by means of an oscillation control arm 31 which projects downwardly parallel to the stem 18 on which the sprinkler unit 25 is mounted, and cooperating stop members which are adjustably mounted on the sleeve 9 which supports the stem. In the present instance, special stop members 32 are provided. Each stop member 32 is formed of spring wire and includes a loop portion 33 which partially encircles the sleeve 9 and. rides in a groove 34 formed therein.

The extremities of the loop portion 33 terminate in outwardly directed parallel arms 35. One arm is provided with a hook element 36 which is adapted to hook over the extremity of theother arm. The stop member is so constructed that the loop portion 33 is normally slightly smaller in diameter than the groove 34, so that when the parallel arms 35 are hooked together the loop portion 33 grips thesleeve 9 to hold the parallel arms 35 in a predetermined, essentially radial position. However, if a screw driver S is insertedbetween the arms 35 so as to spread them, as indicated by broken lines in FIGURES 3 and 4, the grip afforded by the loop portion 33 is relieved so that the stop member may be circumferentially adjusted relative to the sleeve 9.

Operation of the oscillating arm pop-up sprinkler is as follows:

When the supply of water is shut off, the sprinkler unit 25 occupies its retracted position shown in FIGURE 1. When water under pressure is delivered to the tubular stem 3, the sleeve 9 is forced upwardly until the Washer 3 13 sealingly engages the lower end of the slide collar 5, as shown in FIGURE 3.

The vertical travel of the sleeve 9 is sufiicient to bring the orifice 30 to a level wherein Water is discharged above the housing 1, (that is, between .the housing 1 and the cover plate 27.

In the course of the discharge of the water, the oscillating mechanism forminga part of the sprinkler causes a step-by-step turning of thesprinkler unit and stem 18 until the control arm 31 engages one or the other of the stop members 32, whereupon the oscillatory motion of the sprinkler unit 25 is reversed.

The are of travel of the sprinkler unit 25 is dependent upon the relative angular positions of the stop members 32. In order .to adjust the angular relation of the stop members 32, it is merely necessary to lift the sprinkler unit 25 manually or supply water to the sprinkler unit, then while standing diametrically opposite from the orifioe to insert a screw driver S downwardly under the cover plate 27 and between the parallel arms of the stop member to be adjusted. By twisting the screw driver and at the same time applying a torque about the axis of the sleeve 9, the angular position of the stop member 32 may be readily and quickly adjusted.

' The construction illustrated is directed primarily to a part circle sprinkler. If the sprinkler is operated as a full circle sprinkler, by omitting the stop members 32 and the pin 11 the slot 12 may alsobe omitted. In this case the sleeve 9 tends to remain fixed due to the fact that the washer 13 may be arranged to provide a greater amount of friction than the washers 20; 21, and 22. This is facilitated by utilizing a plastic tetrafiuoroethylene homopolymer such as Teflon.

' It should be noted that by providing a sliding connection between the sleeve 9 and collar 5, Which need not provide, for relative rotation, the end seals 13 and 15 are effective to maintain proper sliding movement even though there may be abrasive-laden water above and below the collar 5.

Similarly, by providing a nonsliding but rotating conneotion between the sleeve 9 and stem 18, which can be readily closed by the upper seals 23. and 24 and the lower seals 20, 21, and 22, rotation of the stem 18 is assured even though the surrounding water may contain deleterious matter.

While a particular embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it is not intended to limit the same to the exact details of the construction set forth, and it embraces such changes, modifications, and equivalents of the parts and their formation and arrangement as come the purview of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Means for pop-up installation of sprinklers, comprising: a housing defining an upper sprinkler-receiving chamber and a lower tubular guide stern open at its lower end and joined to a water supply line; a slide collar at the upper end of said guide. stem; a tubular sleeve open at both ends and slidable in said slide collar; means slidably and nonrotatably connecting said sleeve with said guide stem to permit movement of said sleeve axially into said sprinkler-receiving chamber under urge of water pressure, in said guide stem; a tubular rotatable stem journaled in said sleeve and extending axially beyond the ends thereof; sealing means at the extremities of said sleeve cooperating with said rotatable stern; other sealing means at the upper extremity of said slide collar cooperating with said sleeve; and a sprinkler at the outer end of said rotatable stem movable between a retracted position within said sprinkler-receiving chamber and an extended position related thereto.

2. Means for pop-up installation of sprinklers, comprising: a housing including a tubular guide stem at its inner end formed with an internal longitudinal guide slot, and defining an enlarged sprinkler-receiving chamber at its outer end, the bottom wall of said chamber forming a shoulder; a slide collar having a flange adapted to be sealingly mounted on said shoulder, said slide collar extending partly within said sprinkler-receiving chamber and partly within said guide stem; a tubular sleeve open at both ends and slidable in said slide collar; means slidably and non-rotatably connecting said sleeve with said guide stem to permit movement of said sleeve axially into said sprinkler-receiving chamber under urge of water pressure in said guide stem; a tubular rotatable stem journaled in said sleeve and extending axially beyond the ends thereof; sealing means at the extremities of said sleeve cooperating with said rotatable stem; other sealing means at the upper extremity of said slide collar cooperating with said sleeve; and a sprinkler at the outer end of said rotatable stem movable between a retracted position within said sprinkler-receiving chamber and an extended position relative thereto.

3. Means for pop-up installationof sprinklers, comprising: a housing including a tubular guide stem at its inner end formed with an internal longitudinal guide slot, and defining an enlarged sprinkler-receiving chamber at its outer end, the bottom Wall of said chamber forming a shoulder; a slide collar having a flange adapted to be sealingly mounted on said shoulder, said slide collar extending partly within said sprinkler-receiving chamber and partly Within said guide stem; a tubular sleeve open at both ends and slidable in said slide collar between a retracted position within said guide stem and an extended position within said sprinkler-receiving chamber; means extending from said sleeve into said guide slot to restrain said sleeve against rotation; a seal ring fitted over the end of said slide collar within said sprinkler-receiving chamher and including a yieldable lip sealingly engaging said sleeve; a tubular rotatable stem journaled in said sleeve and extending axially beyond the ends thereof; sealing means at the extremities of said sleeve cooperating with said rotatable stem; and a sprinkler at the outer end of said rotatable stem movable between a retracted position within said sprinkler-receiving chamber and an extended position relative thereto. l

4. Means for pop-up installation of oscillating type sprinklers, comprising: a housing having an enlarged circular outer end forming a sprinkler-receiving chamber and a reduced inner end forming a tubular guide stem adapted for connection to a water supply line; a slide collar disposed at the outer end of said guide stem; a tubular sleeve open at both ends and slidable in said slide collar and nonrotatably connected with said guide stem; a tubular stem rotatably mounted in said sleeve and extending axially beyond the ends thereof; an oscillatable sprinkler head mounted on said tubular stem including an oscillation trip arm depending parallel to said stem radiala 1y outward thereof; a circular coverfor said housing chamber carried by said sprinkler head and closable in any angular relation with said housing chamber; a pair of circumferentially adjustable stopsv mounted on said sleeve adjacent its upper end and longitudinally movable as a unit with said sleeve, sprinkler head, and oscillation trip arm, said stops being accessible when said sprinkler head and sleeve are in their upwardly extended positions.

5. Means for pop-up installation of oscillating type sprinklers, comprising: a'housing adapted to be set'intothe earth and defining a sprinkler-receiving chamber; an osoillatable sprinkler dimensioned to be received in said chamber and including a depending trip arm; a covermounted on said sprinkler for movement between a position closing said housing and a raised position to permit discharge of water from said sprinkler between said cover and housing; an extensible mountingstructure for said sprinkler communicating with a water supply andincluding a longitudinally movable, nonrotatable sleeve disposed radially inwardly of said trip arm; a pair of circumferentially adjustable stops mounted on the upper extremity of said sleeve for longitudinal movement as. a unit with said sleeve and sprinkler, thereby to remain in axially fixed relation with said trip arm, said stops being accessible for adjustment when said sprinkler is raised.

6. Means for pop-up installation of sprinklers, comprising: means defining a tubular chamber for connection at one end to a water supply line; a collar at the other end of said chamber; an open end, tubular sleeve slidably mounted in said collar; means sealing the ends of said collar around said sleeve when said sleeve is in an extended position relative to said collar; a tubular stem rotatable and nonslidable in said sleeve and having open ends extending beyond said sleeve; means at the extremities of said sleeve forming rotary seals for said stem; and a sprinkler mounted on said tubular stem.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,691,547 Campbell Oct. 12, 1954 2,768,029 Stinson et al Oct. 23, 1956 2,812,977 Phillips Nov. 12, 1957 2,955,764 Hruby Oct. 11, 1960 2,989,247 Tropeano et al. June 20, 1961 2,990,120 Reynolds June 27, 1961 

1. MEANS FOR POP-UP INSTALLATION OF SPRINKLERS, COMPRISING: A HOUSING DEFINING AN UPPER SPRINKLER-RECEIVING CHAMBER AND A LOWER TUBULAR GUIDE STEM OPEN AT ITS LOWER END AND JOINED TO A WATER SUPPLY LINE; A SLIDE COLLAR AT THE UPPER END OF SAID GUIDE STEM; A TUBULAR SLEEVE OPEN AT BOTH ENDS AND SLIDABLE IN SAID SLIDE COLLAR; MEANS SLIDABLY AND NONROTATABLY CONNECTING SAID SLEEVE WITH SAID GUIDE STEM TO PERMIT MOVEMENT OF SAID SLEEVE AXIALLY INTO SAID SPRINKLER-RECEIVING CHAMBER UNDER URGE OF WATER PRESSURE IN SAID GUIDE STEM; A TUBULAR ROTATABLE STEM JOURNALED IN SAID SLEEVE AND EXTENDING AXIALLY BEYOND THE ENDS THEREOF; SEALING MEANS AT THE EXTREMITIES OF SAID SLEEVE COOPERATING WITH SAID ROTATBLE STEM; OTHER SEALING MEANS AT THE UPPER EXTREMITY OF SAID SLIDE COLLAR COOPERATING WITH SAID SLEEVE; AND A SPRINKLER AT THE OUTER END OF SAID ROTATBLE STEM MOVABLE BETWEEN A RETRACTED POSITION WITHIN SAID SPRINKLER-RECEIVING CHAMBER AND AN EXTENDED POSITION RELATED THERETO. 